Clara's Curiosity: children's book illustrations
Illustrating a children’s book has always been a dream of mine. As a child, I was deeply inspired by the colored pencil illustrations in Bill Peet’s books, which sparked my passion for art.
This ambitious project was a collaboration with author Karen Belanger-Richmond, who wrote the story, blending fiction with elements of a real-life experience from my family.
The illustration process began with extensive style studies to capture the right tone. Drawing inspiration from Clara, a character loosely based on real life, I was able to reference her directly, giving the illustrations a lifelike quality and grounding the world of the story in authenticity.
Over the course of six months, I immersed myself in the project, with each page building upon the last to create a cohesive and visually engaging narrative. You can buy the book now by visiting: https://mascotbooks.com/product/claras-curiosity-her-foxy-friends/ or clarascuriosity.com
One reader beautifully summed up the impact of the illustrations: "I thought the pictures in this book were absolutely beautiful. And not in a ‘only adults can appreciate these pictures’ way, which happens in many children’s books. My 6-year-old daughter loved and appreciated the pictures just as much."
